Slashdot is powered by your submissions, so send in your scoop

 



Forgot your password?
typodupeerror
×
Businesses

Calling B.S. On Amazon's Taxation Arguments 762

theodp writes "Over at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Michael Mazerov carefully picks apart Amazon's arguments against collecting sales taxes, arguing that they simply do not withstand scrutiny. While Amazon officials say collecting sales tax in every state would be excessively burdensome, Mazerov notes the e-tailer already collects sales tax in virtually every state for numerous other companies that sell on its website. Mazerov also finds it disingenuous for Amazon to argue that it should not have to help support public services in states in which it has no physical presence when the company fails to support public services in most of the states in which it does have a physical presence. Finally, Mazerov isn't buying Amazon's argument that its opposition to collecting sales tax is not driven by a desire to gain a price advantage over competitors, which he finds at odds with the company's own actions and SEC filings. By claiming sales-tax immunity, says Mazerov, Amazon has enjoyed an unfair 5%-10% price advantage over local retailers, while also depriving states and localities of hundreds of millions of dollars of legally due revenue each year."

Comment Simple solution--Kinetic Batteries (Score 1) 235

When it's really windy, use the energy to lift huge quantities of weight to the top of a deep shaft. Then when electricity is needed, allow the weights to fall down the shaft, with the cables they are suspended from driving generators on the way down. Won't wear out like a chemical battery, plus it's not toxic and can be made out of almost anything.

Comment Re:There's a saying: (Score 1) 1231

Pioneers get the arrows

Is there a way for "second wave" settlers to move in after the arrows are mostly used up, still getting the benefit of the new territory, but with less frontier dangers? Don't say that the solution is just to use an older LTS Ubuntu distro, because while they're a little more refined, they haven't had continual attention and refinement going into them to improve them. All the effort is put into exploring new territory, but the already explored territory doesn't seem to improve much past the state it is in when first explored.

Comment Re:Scientific? (Score 1) 536

"I'm sure that they had sex"

What evidence? The article says:

"We will be able to answer quite rigorously with the new [Neanderthal genome] sequence."

"Due to the length of time that has elapsed since Neanderthals became extinct, any trace of their DNA in modern humans could have been diluted below detectable levels. Paabo hopes to overcome this by scanning the Neanderthal genome for the genes of modern humans."

Okay, he hopes he will be able to overcome this technical limitation. So in other words, the statement that they had sex is just his personal opinion?

Sounds like Nobel prize material to me!

Comment Re:Divine inspiration (Score 1) 185

Or you could read the rest of that sentence which states you don't do it at churches. NEVER SEEN IT! Went to church for years, never taught me about anything other than trying to brainwash me into Christianity. So will you be spreading the good word of Muhammad once you start preaching? Why not, the stories are about the damn same. There's others out there even more similar... but I am sure you know the names.

I get the feeling that I've been to more churches than you. Sure, not all churches are the same, but most of the ones I know of are a lot more open minded than what you have experienced.

BTW, if you really think Islam and Christianity are are "about the damn same," then you either didn't pay attention all those years at Church, haven't studied Islam, or your church was really messed up.

Comment Re:Divine inspiration (Score 1) 185

they would base their beliefs on rational empricism

So you are saying anyone who wants to know if their beliefs are well founded will base their beliefs on rational empiricism, and nothing else.

But then what is the empirical data which indicates that empirical data is the only kind of data which is allowed?

You seriously need to read an introductory book (heck, even a wikipedia article) on Epistemology (the study of knowing whether or not beliefs are well founded, basically). Until you do so, you will continue to just sound silly.

Comment Re:Divine inspiration (Score 1) 185

I meant that people who have "faith" don't necessarily need confirmation of their faith. They don't believe in God because of a book, they believe in God because they feel something and God is how they explain that something.

What you are describing is called Fideism. Look it up in a theological dictionary. Very few Christians have been Fideists, historically. Even less so today.

Slashdot Top Deals

"Experience has proved that some people indeed know everything." -- Russell Baker

Working...